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Vocabulary
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Vocabulary
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Reading Comprehension
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Grammar and Usage
E N G L I S H I N C O N T E X T VOCABUL ARY
Capitalization and Punctuation
Topics Include:
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Commonly Confused Words, Word Origins, Reference
Books, Topical Vocabulary, Synonyms and Antonyms
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SA D D LEBACK ED U C AT I O N AL PU BLI S H I N G
ISBN-13: 978-1-61651-399-3
ISBN-10: 1-16151-399-3
Overview of Language, Analyzing Word Parts,
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CONTENTS
Introduction .................................. 5
UNIT 1 Overview of Language ....... 6
LESSON
16 Trite Language .......................... 30
17 Idioms ..................................... 32
18 Idioms: Make and Take ............... 34
1 Varieties of English ...................... 6
19 Idioms: Go and Get .................... 36
2 Matching Words to the Occasion .... 8
20 Jargon .................................... 38
3 Parts of Speech ........................... 9
21 Slang ...................................... 39
4 Using Parts of Speech ................ 10
Unit 1 Review ......................... 12
Unit 4 Review ......................... 40
UNIT 5 Word Origins .................... 41
UNIT 2 Analyzing Word Parts ....... 13
22 Borrowed Words ....................... 41
5 Word Roots .............................. 13
23 Word Histories .......................... 43
6 Prefixes and Suffixes .................. 14
24 Compound Words ..................... 44
7 More Prefixes and Suffixes .......... 16
8 Medical Prefixes and Suffixes ....... 17
25 Blended, Clipped, and
Coined Words ........................ 46
9 More Prefixes and Suffixes .......... 18
26 Foreign Words and Phrases ......... 48
Unit 2 Review ......................... 20
Unit 5 Review ......................... 49
UNIT 3 Commonly Confused
Words ............................ 21
UNIT 6 Reference Books .............. 50
27 The Dictionary .......................... 50
10 Multiple Meaning Words ............. 21
28 Dictionary Pronunciation Key ....... 52
11 Homophones ............................ 23
29 The Thesaurus .......................... 53
12 Near Misses .............................. 24
Unit 3 Review ......................... 25
Unit 6 Review ......................... 55
UNIT 7 Topical Vocabulary ........... 56
UNIT 4 Shades of Meaning .......... 26
30 Art and Music ........................... 56
13 Denotation and Connotation ........ 26
31 Employment ............................. 58
14 Connotations ............................ 28
32 Advertising ............................... 60
15 Euphemisms ............................ 29
33 Science ................................... 62
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34 Science Careers ......................... 63
52 Words Beginning with G ............. 87
35 Figurative Language ................... 64
53 Words Beginning with H ............. 88
36 Weather .................................. 65
54 Words Beginning with I .............. 89
37 Driving .................................... 66
55 Words Beginning with J .............. 90
38 American History
and Geography ........................ 68
56 Words Beginning with K ............. 91
39 Government ............................. 70
40 Forms and Applications ............... 71
41 Computers ............................... 72
42 Media ..................................... 74
43 Media Careers ........................... 75
44 Sports ..................................... 76
45 Plants and Animals .................... 77
Unit 7 Review ......................... 78
57 Words Beginning with L .............. 92
58 Words Beginning with M ............. 93
59 Words Beginning with N ............. 94
60 Words Beginning with O ............. 95
61 Words Beginning with P ............. 96
62 Words Beginning with Q ............. 97
63 Words Beginning with R ............. 98
64 Words Beginning with S .............. 99
65 Words Beginning with T ............. 100
UNIT 8 Synonyms and
Antonyms A–Z ................ 80
66 Words Beginning with U ............ 101
Pretest ................................... 80
68 Words Beginning with W ........... 103
46 Words Beginning with A ............. 81
69 Words Beginning with X, Y, Z ..... 104
47 Words Beginning with B ............. 82
48 Words Beginning with C ............. 83
49 Words Beginning with D ............. 84
50 Words Beginning with E ............. 85
51 Words Beginning with F .............. 86
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67 Words Beginning with V ............ 102
Unit 8 Review ........................ 105
Reference Guide ....................... 107
Teacher’s Notes and
Answer Key ............................ 113
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INTRODUCTION
Building a good vocabulary doesn’t mean memorizing long
lists of difficult words. It doesn’t mean spending long hours reading a dictionary, either. Your everyday activities present plenty
of opportunities to increase your word power.
The benefits of having the “right” words at your command
are obvious. People who can express themselves with precision
and grace have a clear advantage over those who can’t. They
can count on themselves to speak confidently and write with
self-assurance. In competitive situations at school or on the job,
language skills are an enormous asset. In personal and social
situations, the ability to communicate your needs, thoughts,
and feelings can make your relationships stronger and your life
less stressful.
The instruction in this book will give you access to hundreds
of new and interesting words. As you complete each lesson, try
to integrate as many words as you can into your speech and
writing. While no amount of practice can promise perfection,
practice does guarantee improvement! And remember that the
best word to use is not necessarily long or fancy; it’s the one that
conveys the exact meaning you intend. Careful attention as you
work your way through this book is a wise investment in your
future as a “great communicator”!
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UNIT
OVERVIEW OF LANGUAGE
FOR HELP WITH THE LESSONS IN THIS BOOK, see the Reference Guide, PAGES 107–112.
1
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VARIETIES OF ENGLISH
Vocabulary skill is based on a clear understanding of language itself. The language you use must be appropriate to the situation. Think about it. Would you
dress for a job interview in the clothes you wore to clean the garage? Would you
polish your shoes before going to the beach, or wear your favorite torn sweatshirt
to a formal reception? Appropriate language is like appropriate clothing. It shows
that you understand the requirements of different occasions and circumstances.
Two major categories of English are called standard and substandard. Standard
English is the language of educated people—those who know and follow the
conventional rules of grammar and usage.
Substandard English, which usually breaks accepted rules in the use of pronouns
and certain verb forms, is associated with the uneducated.
examples:
Standard: I saw that movie.
Substandard: I seen that movie.
He and I are friends.
Him and me are friends.
A
Write S or SS to show whether each sentence below is written in
standard English or substandard English.
1. _____ Dizzy Dean, once a great pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, was famous for using substandard speech.
2. _____ Dizzy’s brother Paul was also a pitcher for the Cards.
3. _____ “A teacher wrote to say that she don’t like the way I talk,” said Dizzy.
4. _____ “She don’t want me to say that a runner slud into
second base.”
5. _____ “What does she want me to say—slided?”
6. _____ “Me and Paul don’t like to worry about that sort of stuff,” said Dizzy.
6
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1
B
Rewrite the sentences in standard English.
1. I noticed you was late getting home last night.
___________________________________________________________________
2. Haven’t you got no respect for the house rules? ___________________________________________________________________
3. Dad don’t like you staying out after midnight. ___________________________________________________________________
4. If Dad catches you hisself, you’ll be grounded! ___________________________________________________________________
There are different forms of standard English. The two most important varieties are
formal and informal. Formal English is used for serious purposes: research papers,
literary essays, important speeches, and essay questions on exams. Characteristics
of formal English include the following:
•Sentences are very carefully
constructed.
•rarely contains slang
•uses words not common in
everyday speech and writing
•avoids the use of contractions
Most of the time, educated people use informal language. Whether written or
spoken, their sentences sound more like conversation than like lines from a formal
speech. Newspapers, magazines, novels, and business letters are written in informal
English. Characteristics of informal English include the following:
•includes both long and short
sentences
•uses contractions
C
•uses vocabulary that is clear
and simple rather than elegant
•uses limited slang
Read each pair of words. Circle the formal word and underline
the informal word.
1. kids children
5. rich prosperous
2. colleagues coworkers
6. aspirations goals
3. started originated
7. balance moderation
4. propose suggest
8. assert say
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MATCHING WORDS TO THE OCCASION
2
Long, difficult words are not necessarily the best words for all occasions. Effective
communicators understand the difference between simple, everyday speech and
what is called the “King’s English.”
A
Which kind of English is appropriate in each situation below? Write formal or informal on the lines.
1. a thank you note for a gift:
______________________________
2. a letter to the PTA:
______________________________
3. a legal document:
______________________________
B
4. a classroom discussion:
______________________________
5. an academic journal article:
______________________________
6. a newspaper article:
______________________________
Practice writing sentences in both formal and informal English. If the
sentence is written in formal English, rewrite it in informal English. If
the language is informal, rewrite it in formal language. As an example, the first sentence has been done for you.
1. Van’s lame suggestion was probably a put-on.
Van’s
___________________________________________________________________
unworkable suggestion was likely meant as a joke.
2. An overly intensive study schedule may adversely affect your social aspirations.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Great Britain’s royals packed the room at the uppercrust charity bash.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. Persistent procrastination before studying is a self-indulgence students can ill afford.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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PARTS OF SPEECH
3
All words are classified as one of eight parts of speech: adjective, adverb,
conjunction, interjection, noun, preposition, pronoun, or verb.
Nouns, pronouns, and verbs are the most important parts of speech. Why? Because
you need a noun or a pronoun, along with a verb, to make a sentence.
Nouns are words that name people, places, and things.
examples:
Vanessa street government engine honesty
Pronouns are words used in place of nouns.
examples:
she I you its them their our mine
Verbs are words that express action or being in the past, present, or future.
examples:
A
walk, walked, will walk am, was, have been
Circle the word that is the part of speech listed in boldface.
1. noun why often boulder us
2. verb shook rotten quickly therefore
3. pronoun
cape believed me wished
Adjectives add to the meaning of nouns or pronouns by telling which one, what
kind, or how many.
examples:
that pencil red car three boys
Adverbs add to the meaning of verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs by telling how,
when, where, why, or to what degree.
examples:
B
cried loudly
arrived early
almost dark
come here
very happy
still waiting
In each sentence, underline the adjective and circle the adverb.
1. Six hens clucked softly.
4. Never tease wild animals.
2. The hog is very fat.
5. Tiny mice scurry quickly.
3. That cow eats lazily.
6. Those birds fly high.
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USING PARTS OF SPEECH
4
A
Use words from the box to complete the sentences.
proverbs
stitches
remember
never
always
kindly
clever
dense
their
some
nine
me
saves
wastes
we
strange
old
explain
you
them
it
1. An __________________ proverb advises that “a stitch in time (adjective)
__________________ nine.”
(verb)
2. I may be __________________, but I’ve __________________ been sure
(adverb)
(adjective)
about what that saying means.
3. Do __________________ understand __________________?
4. Does the “stitch in time” save __________________ minutes or nine more
(pronoun)
(pronoun)
(adjective)
__________________?
(noun)
5. Will you _________________ _________________ it to __________________ ?
(adverb)
B
(verb)
(pronoun)
Give your own examples of each part of speech.
1. nouns __________________ __________________ __________________
2. verbs
3. pronouns __________________ __________________ __________________
4. adjectives __________________ __________________ __________________
5. adverbs __________________ __________________ __________________
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EIC Vocabulary 001-025.indd 10
__________________ __________________ __________________
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C
Read what four famous writers had to say about the importance of
words. Then identify the called-for parts of speech in each quotation.
Write the words on the lines.
1. Words form the thread upon which we hang our experiences.
—Aldous Huxley
two verbs
_________________________ _________________________
two pronouns
_________________________ _________________________
2. One’s vocabulary needs constant fertilization or it will die.
—Evelyn Waugh
two nouns
_________________________ _________________________
two verbs
_________________________ _________________________
one adjective
_________________________ 3. The difference between the almost right word and the right
word is really a large matter—’tis the difference between the
lightning bug and the lightning. —Mark Twain
three adjectives
five nouns
_________________________ _________________________
_________________________ _________________________
_________________________ one adverb
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________
_________________________ 4. Words are the hummingbirds of the imagination.
—Elbert Hubbard
three nouns
_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ one verb
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1
A
UNIT REVIEW
Rewrite only the sentences that are written in substandard English.
If the sentence is written in standard English, write correct.
1. Ms. Haworth never makes no mistakes in grammar.
___________________________________________________________________
2. Leticia and Esther are our two best debaters.
___________________________________________________________________
3. I and Collette was chosen to be co-captains.
___________________________________________________________________
4. Marty run into Kevin at the dance last night.
___________________________________________________________________
5. Andrew’s scholarship was the result of hard work.
___________________________________________________________________
B
Write I or F next to each phrase to show whether it is an example
of formal or informal English.
1. _____ fortuitous circumstances
4. _____ a crying shame
2. _____ a lucky break
5. _____ a favorable omen
3. _____ inevitable consequences
6. _____ couldn’t care less
C
Write noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, or adverb to identify the words
in each group. Hint: You will write one part of speech twice.
1. slowly, well, somewhat:
______________________________
2. wheat, Idaho, community:
______________________________
3. us, you, themselves:
______________________________
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EIC Vocabulary 001-025.indd 12
4. exploded, does, thinks:
______________________________
5. eleven, bald, dangerous:
______________________________
6. loyalty, conscience, vapor:
______________________________
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